DEP-BWR-NOI-FY27-M36 Grant ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is soliciting interest from Water Management Act registrants and permit holders to participate in a free American Water Works Association M36 "Top-Down" water audit program, with responses due October 21, 2026 by 5:00 p.m. EST. This is a Request for Interest; MassDEP will subsequently procure consulting firm services through a separate public competitive procurement anticipated to release by October 23, 2026, with consultant contract performance from January through June 30, 2027.

Eligibility is limited to Massachusetts public water suppliers or municipalities holding valid Water Management Act permits or registrations and located in communities either not subject to or in compliance with the MBTA Communities Act. Preference is given to projects providing direct benefit to Disadvantaged Communities as defined by the Disadvantaged Community Loan Forgiveness Program; additional prioritization applies to PWSs in Disadvantaged Communities with consistently high MassDEP-approved Unaccounted for Water percentages or unable to receive final water needs forecasts due to high UAW or accounting issues.

The scope encompasses two audit formats. "Top-Down" audits (desktop exercises involving records gathering, data collection, and limited field testing) are available to entities that have not previously completed an AWWA M36 audit or those with recent audits lacking data validity scores over 51. Eligible Public Water Suppliers meeting specified criteria may additionally receive a "Bottom-Up Component Analysis" involving field testing and strategies to reduce real water losses in withdrawal, treatment, and distribution systems; this is available to entities with recently completed AWWA M36 audits achieving validity scores of 51 or greater and possessing detailed necessary data.

All applicants must commit to providing detailed system information for calendar year 2025 or 2026 by January 15, 2027, including production metering, distribution system pressures, storage data, leak detection and repair records, customer metering and billing information, authorized consumption data, water conservation activities, rates and production costs, and infrastructure rehabilitation plans. Applicants proposing Bottom-Up Component Analyses must additionally provide detailed leak, break, main size, appurtenance type, and service connection data. Responses should be submitted electronically to jen.durso@mass.gov. Program funding is contingent upon Massachusetts legislative appropriation. MassDEP contact is 617-348-4040 or TTY# MassRelay 1-800-439-2370.